The Tullahoma Lady Wildcats entered last night's scheduled homecoming contest against Shelbyville coming off three hotly contested losses by a total of 13 points, a sign that the program is becoming highly competitive in District 8-AAA.

Throw out a blowout 73-40 loss to Lincoln Co. last week and your left with three games that Tullahoma (0-5, 3-14) had real chances to win. That's a step in the right direction for Steve Jobe's first Lady Wildcats squad.

The stretch began with a 45-41 loss to Franklin Co. back on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at home, a game that went to the final seconds before being decided. Visit District8aaa.com for scores, standings, and individual leaders.

The Lady 'Cats came right back a night after falling to Lincoln Co. on Friday, Jan. 15, and took non-district foe Warren Co. to the wire before dropping a heartbreaking 45-41 decision. On Tuesday night, Jan. 19, Tullahoma hosted Grundy Co. in another non-district tilt that saw the Lady 'Cats take the Lady Yellow Jackets right down to the wire before falling 44-39.

Olivia Barlow was the early spark for Tullahoma, dropping in the first 11 points and scoring 17 of the Lady 'Cats' 20 first-half points. Barlow was held scoreless after the intermission as Tullahoma entered the locker room trailing 21-20.

The home team fought back behind a pair of three pointers from Kristina Tucker and nine second-half points from Danae Thornburg to take a 31-30 lead into the fourth quarter. However, Grundy Co.'s Chelsea Wiseman hit all five of her fourth quarter free throws, scoring 13 points in the second half, to lead the visitors to the win.

The Lady 'Cats will host Columbia on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the gym on Jackson St. with tipoff for the girls scheduled at 6:30pm.